In March 2026, Talcott Mountain Academy (TMA) seventh- and eighth-grade students participated in the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair and Connecticut History Day, two competitions in which TMA students take part each year. Their projects reflected strong curiosity, thoughtful research, and a commitment to excellence, earning recognition at the regional and state levels.
Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair | Quinnipiac University
March 2-14, 2026
Raji Doshi (7th grade)
Engineering A Durable Algae-Argonite Alkalinity System To Reduce CO2 Driven Ocean Acidification and Enhance Biological Resilience In Coastal Marine Ecosystems
- Connecticut Science Fair Association Physical Science Awards with CMS Dorothy Minervino — 1st Place Physical Sciences 7th Grade Ind. – $200, trophy & invitation to compete in Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator’s Challenge
- Connecticut Association of Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commissions Environmental Sciences Awards — 3rd Place Middle School – $100 & Trophy
- Alexion Biotechnology Awards — 1st Place Biotechnology 7th grade – $300, trophy & invitation to compete in Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovator’s Challenge
- Society of Women Engineers – Hartford Section — Scientific Calculator
- Southeastern New England Marine Educators (SENEME) — 1st Place Junior – $100 award & membership for student and teacher in SENEME
- Freeman Family Excellence in Chemistry Awards — Middle School – $100 For Excellence in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering
- Susan and Stanley Lessoff Memorial Award — Middle School – $250
Sheldon Hsiao (7th grade)
Sensory Triggers of Defensive Behavior in Manduca seat
- Connecticut Science Fair Association Life Science Awards with The Jackson Laboratory — 2nd Place Life Sciences 7th grade – $200 & trophy
- Alexion Biotechnology Awards — 5th Place Biotechnology 7th grade – trophy
Nikhil Krishnamurthy (7th grade)
Operation Brine Shrimp: Optimizing Life Conditions
- Connecticut Science Fair Association Life Science Awards with The Jackson Laboratory — 3rd Place Life Sciences 7th grade – $100 & trophy
- Alexion Biotechnology Awards — Finalist Biotechnology 7th grade – CSF Medallion
Dean Raptis (8th grade)
A Cognitive Analysis of Social Media Engagement and Multitasking Behaviors in Adult Attention and Focus Endurance
- Infosys Foundation Computer Science Awards — Middle School Finalist – Medallion
Rhea Doshi (TMA ‘23, current 10th grader at Kingswood Oxford School)
A Multi-Modal AI/ML Platform for Neurodegenerative Risk Prediction: Integrating Epigenetic Signatures through cfDNA Methylation and Functional Mobility Data
- Connecticut Science Fair Association Life Science Awards with The Jackson Laboratory — 1st Place Life Sciences Senior High – $500 & plaque
- Pfizer Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Awards — 2nd Place High School – $300 & plaque
- H. Joseph Gerber Award of Excellence presented by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering — Life Sciences Senior 1st Place High School – $1,000, Solid Silver Medal of Excellence & invite to CASE Annual Mtg
- Alexion Biotechnology Awards — 1st Place Biotechnology Senior High – $500 & plaque
Rhea, a TMA alumna from the Class of 2023, continues to build on her strong foundation in scientific research at Kingswood Oxford, earning top honors at the high school level.
Connecticut History Day | Torrington Regional Contest
March 14, 2026
Raji Doshi (7th grade)
One Door, One Stand, One Nation Changed: The Desegregation of the University of Alabama
- Junior Individual Documentary — 1st Place
Nikhil Krishnamurthy (7th grade)
The Discovery of Insulin and its Reforms
- Junior Individual Website — 1st Place
Dean Raptis (8th grade)
Betrayal, Dehumanization, and Devastation: How the Guatemala Syphilis Experiments Revolutionized Bioethics through Global Reaction and Reform
- Junior Papers — 2nd Place
Lincoln Taylor (7th grade)
The Fire That Never Dies: The Tragedy of Centralia
- Junior Papers — Honorable Mention
Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work and outstanding achievements!
Talcott Mountain Academy (TMA) offers a distinctive STEM-based education for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, where advanced and curious learners thrive within a science center environment and are empowered through an integrated curriculum to develop their talents and become lifelong learners. Learn more about how TMA is shaping the next generation here.